"I don't think you can ask anyone following their traditions to justify practice handed down to them by their ancestors.

The Gourd Dance belongs to the Kiowa people. Others have been gifted the dance, and others have simply taken it.

We Kiowa follow the traditions of our tribe in our Gourd Dance. It's odd to have outsiders ask us to justify the gift of our traditions handed down to us by our families.

You want us to change our tribal traditions to suit you?

We simply answer questions about our dance when asked. We will continue to honour the gift our parents gave to us in the way we were taught to honour that gift. No disrespect, but we're not here to argue what you believe our heritage should be or how we should practice our traditions. Thanks anyway."